More than 200 days has passed since the Sewol incident in April, yet the safety and security issues in Korea are still alive. Despite a grieving nation, there are no improvements regarding either the institutional aspects or the consciousness of the people. The tragedy in Pangyo, where more than 16 people died from the collapse of ventilation hole, is one such case. The accident shows that even though such a catastrophe as Sewol has happened, the message from it has failed to change the consciousness of society.
When the Sewol incident happened, all blame was put on the captain and the crew, who abandoned the ship without warning the passengers to escape the ship. Later, as the whole story regarding the accident was revealed, people started to blame the Korean coastguard and the president for failing to rescue the victims. Although these reactions seem reasonable because some of the responsibility regarding the accident can be attributed to government, there was much fault in the rescuing process and the procedural method.
Yet that does not mean that the government should always take responsibility for all catastrophes that happen. Take the Pangyo incident for example, which occurred in early November. People climbed up to the ventilation hole of the subway system, and the ventilation cover could not stand the weight of the people, eventually resulting in more than 16 casualties. Blaming the Gyeonggi Science and Technology Agency for the collapse of safety system at Pangyo is absurd. The Pangyo disaster happened because the victims ignored the safety regulations; not because there were no adequate safety devices that could handle the situation. It is irrational to require that the safety measures would exist in every corner of society. It is true the deaths are horrible and sympathy and condolences should be adamant, but the accident should not be regarded as an incident that is in the same line as Sewol.
The press vilified the Gyeonggi Science and Technology Agency for its lack of safety measures near the performance stage, but that kind of approach only results in innocent people taking responsibility. In the Sewol ferry incident, the president of Danwon High School committed suicide because he could not overcome the sense of guilt, and the safety manager in the Pangyo performance area also made the same decision. It was the faulty awareness of the public and the press that made the second victims.
Whenever some accidents happen, a few people criticize the inadequate system as the cause of the incident, and it is the system that is subjected to reformations. Regardless, often the amendments done to the system are often erroneous and vain, and do not solve the fundamental problems. The dissolution of the Korean Coast Guard after the Sewol incident is one such case.
It is true that sometimes the faulty systems are the ultimate cause of some accidents, but more often the roots lie in the awareness of people. Even if there is a perfect system that could prevent catastrophe, it can only work if it is accompanied by a healthy awareness of the people. Although the Sewol tragedy seemed to have aroused the attention in Korea, recent incidents happening seems like nothing has changed. Before condemning the government and the system for the cause of some incidents, it is important for all citizens to make honest efforts to heighten their awareness.
Yoon Se Young
nacynh@korea.ac.kr